Chapter 104 I'd rather talk to you about something else than romance...

The air outside the window was thick with heat.

Before she knew it, summer, which Risa hated, had arrived again.

After the promotional video was filmed, Risa was kept behind to guide the editing, which took almost another month and a half.

Finally, the project was completed.

The afternoon downpour had just passed, and the sky was a dazzlingly blue.

Risa was packing up her equipment when she heard footsteps behind her.

"Matsuno Risa".

Atobe's voice carried its usual arrogance.

Risa closed her laptop: "What brings you here, young master Atobe?"

"How about transferring to Hyotei?" Atobe asked, one hand in his pocket, as he handed her a stack of documents.

Risa put the laptop into her tote bag before turning around and taking the document. Raising an eyebrow, she saw it was a transfer application form for Hyotei Academy, already stamped with the registrar's office seal.

"What are you doing here at Hyotei?" She tapped her chin lightly with her fingertip. "Could it be that young master Atobe wants to date me?"

"You woman!" Atobe's temples bulged with veins. "I'm only doing this because you're trying to balance your studies and running a brand. Rikkai University's old-fashioned academic atmosphere is just...!"

“Oh my~” Risa leaned forward, her red lips curving into a sly smile, “To be honest, the reason of ‘dating Atobe-sama’ is much more appealing.”

Atobe's breath hitched, and a blush crept onto his ears involuntarily.

He curled his lip and took a half step back: "She's already taken... Shameless!"

"It was just a joke, why are you getting so worked up?"

Risa stopped smiling, casually tossed the transfer application onto the table, and instead pulled a document from her bag, handing it to Atobe.

"For a talented person like Master Atobe, I'd rather 'talk' about something else with you than romance..."

Atobe took the document, frowned, and opened it, his expression gradually becoming playful.

"LUMIERA's investment agreement?"

"Wasn't there a lot of talk online a while ago about the Atobe Group signing an investment agreement with LUMIERA...?"

Risa pulled out the chair next to Atobe and sat down, folding her hands together. "After graduation, I will take back the brand license and operate it independently, but..." She tilted her head and smiled, "I understand the principle of 'it's good to have a powerful backer.'"

Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow across the agreement.

Atobe narrowed his eyes slightly, his pupils reflecting the girl's silhouette. She stood backlit, confident and composed, like a bird soaring in the sky, so dazzling that one couldn't help but want to see her fold her wings and rest.

"Want to do business with me?" He tapped the table lightly with his long fingers. "Then let me see just how much you can offer."

Atobe turned and walked to the high-backed chair, sitting down with his legs casually crossed. He carefully reviewed the terms of the agreement, his gaze sharp and piercing.

A silent struggle filled the air.

A moment later, he closed the file.

Risa maintained her smile and calmly asked, "So, Mr. Atobe, what's your decision?"

Atobe raised an eyebrow: "Your offer is quite attractive, but it's far from enough for me."

Risa's smile didn't fade; instead, it deepened. She met his intensely imposing gaze. "Oh? Then, in Atobe-kun's eyes, what kind of bargaining chip... is worthy of playing against you?"

Atobe paused, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. He liked this kind of unwavering sharpness.

“It’s very simple,” he leaned back in his chair, regaining his commanding posture, “As for the profit sharing, I’ll take 30% of the net profit, and you’ll only retain controlling interest.”

“Okay.” Risa agreed almost without hesitation. She then added, “But if the brand’s annual revenue exceeds 1 billion yen in three years, your share will automatically drop to 20%.”

Do you think I, the great one, would accept such a diminishing return clause?

"What if I don't meet the target? I'll voluntarily give you 5% of the controlling stake."

Atobe's eyes flickered slightly: "...Continue."

"In addition, regarding brand collaborations, LUMIERA can provide free design and exhibition services for any collaborations involving the Atobe Foundation within the next five years."

Atobe scoffed: "You think the resources of the Atobe Group are worth only this much?"

“This is my bottom line. If Atobe-kun is not satisfied, then it means that I, Matsuno Risa, am not destined for this.” Risa pretended to take back the contract and smiled slightly. “But if LUMIERA succeeds in its business, it may become a competitor of the Atobe Group in the youth market.”

Atobe's long, slender hand fell, pressing down on the contract: "Are you threatening me?"

“That’s called business negotiation.” Risa smiled slightly. “Identifying the opponent’s weakness is a very basic tactic, isn’t it?”

Atobe's eyes darkened for a moment, then he quickly regained his languid demeanor: "...I need time to consider."

"No rush."

Risa stood up, her handbag swaying gently in her hand. "I still have plenty of time before I graduate."

She stopped at the door.

"Oh, right—"

Risa turned her head and glanced back, her hair slipping down her shoulder.

“I’m so grateful for the special care that young master Atobe has given me during this time.” She smiled sincerely. “Thanks to you, I have finally found the important answer that I’ve been searching for until now…”

Atobe's hand suddenly tightened.

He looked up: "What's the answer?"

"It's roughly like this..."

Something like a dream.

She said no more, turned around and pushed open the door.

The light from the corridor slanted into the room, blurring her silhouette and making it appear resolute.

"Well then, I look forward to your good news, Atobe-kun."

The door closed silently.

Atobe sat alone in the large chair.

The setting sun shone through the glass, casting varying shades of shadow on his handsome face.

My phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket.

Atobe paused for a moment, then casually swiped the screen.

The photos sent by Shinobu were still loading, and the moment the progress bar finished, the high-definition image suddenly filled the entire screen.

His eyes suddenly sharpened.

After a long pause, he chuckled softly.

"interesting."

-

As Risa walked into the lobby of the administration building, her phone suddenly vibrated.

It's a message from Ootori Chotaro:

[Senior, Yukimura-senpai is waiting for you at the Rose Garden Restaurant. He said... he came specifically to pick you up and take you back to Kanagawa.]

Risa was taken aback, her finger hovering above the screen. Before she could reply, a laughing voice came from behind her:

"No need to confirm, it's me who's back."

She turned around abruptly and saw Yukimura leaning against a magnificent carved Roman column.

I heard...

He tilted his head slightly, his smile so gentle it sent chills down one's spine: "Risa and Atobe seem to be getting along quite well lately?"

Even from several meters away, Risa could smell the vinegar.

"Your match is over?"

"Um."

Yukimura strolled up to her, and the champion's medal fell into her palm; the cool touch made her shiver.

"That photo of the 'doting smile' is really well taken."

His long, slender fingers touched her cheek, and Risa looked up to meet his gaze.

“Ashi…” The downy hair on the back of her neck stood up quietly, “Your smile is terrifying right now.”

"Hmm?" Yukimura leaned closer, their noses almost touching. "It's only been half a month, and my Risa has already learned to be afraid?"

Risa: "......"

Just then, a voice came from behind.

"Yukimura, you rarely come back, and you don't even say hello to your great-grandfather? Huh?"

The tone was understated yet luxurious; it was obvious who it was.

Yukimura looked up, his gaze passing through Risa and looking behind her.

The moment their eyes met, the air seemed to freeze.

“Atobe.” Yukimura smiled. “I was just passing by and came to pick up my kitten.”

Atobe raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on Risa: "Oh? She's your cat?"

Risa rolled her eyes: "...Can you guys please stop using such weird metaphors?"

Yukimura chuckled, reached out and grasped her wrist, his fingertips tracing the faint scar on the back of her hand, and sighed:

"I haven't seen you for just a few days, and you've already gotten all these injuries."

Atobe's lips twitched. That scar was clearly something she'd scratched herself while fiddling with the training equipment; it had nothing to do with the Rose Garden shoot.

That bastard Yukimura deliberately blurred the timeline, implying that he "didn't take good care of her."

Seeing the atmosphere between the two becoming increasingly tense, Risa took Yukimura's arm and tried to smooth things over with a smile:

"Ashi, I'm hungry. Want to go get a strawberry parfait with me?"

Yukimura was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. Atobe, on the other hand, chuckled and glanced at her with a half-smile.

"Alright, alright, let's go, we're starving!" Risa took the opportunity to pull Yukimura away, trying to escape this hellish situation.

However, just as he was about to escape his misery, Atobe's deep and meaningful voice came from behind him:

"Matsuno Risa, what you said to me today, I will... 'seriously consider'."

Risa stopped abruptly, her back tensing instantly.

—It's over.

She turned her head stiffly, meeting Yukimura's slightly narrowed eyes, a gaze so gentle it was chilling.

"Um... let me explain, it's just about discussing a strategic cooperation agreement..."

Risa cursed Atobe a thousand times in her heart.

Meanwhile, on the gossip channel:

Shinobu posted photos of the "battlefield downstairs" to the [Rikkai-Hyotei Joint Group], and Niou replied instantly:

“Puri~ This is much better than the promotional video.”

[Sanada: They're too lax!]

[Yagyu: Should we have a medical team on standby?]

[Jiro: zzz......Eh? Did they start fighting?]

On the other side, Ootori Chotaro, who witnessed the whole thing, was stunned: "The relationships between the seniors... are so complicated."

Asuka calmly sipped her tea: "You'll get used to it. Risa-chan's luck with women has always been outrageous."

-

The restaurant's glass windows reflected the two figures.

Yukimura rested his elbows on the table, his long fingers supporting his chin, his gaze fixed on Risa's face: "LUMIERA brand strategic cooperation agreement?"

"Mmm." Risa scooped up a spoonful of strawberry parfait.

As she ate, she explained her plans in detail.

"Do you want to give up being an actor?" Yukimura asked softly.

"Probably not in the short term," Risa shook her head. "After all, we still need start-up capital."

"If you need money, you can..."

“Oichi,” Risa interrupted him, looking intently into his eyes, “you are my support, but not my dependence. And—” she paused, a slight smile playing on her lips, “I think I’ve finally found what I truly want to do during this time.”

“I see.” Yukimura reached out and gently brushed a stray hair behind her ear with his fingertips. “It seems that a lot of interesting things happened while I was away.”

When he chuckled softly, his eyelashes cast trembling shadows beneath his eyes.

Risa couldn't help but shiver.

—I always felt there was some kind of dangerous signal hidden in his tone.

She cleared her throat and continued chatting with him about her recent situation, including her upcoming plans.

"So—" Yukimura tilted his head slightly, "you want to be a director?"

"Mm." Risa nodded.

She pushed the empty barfi cup aside, resting her hands on her chin, "But unlike traditional film and television directors, I'm a multifaceted role combining sports competition, brand marketing, and personal IP management. For example, creating sports documentaries, brand commercials, and even short films for sports and fashion projects..."

Halfway through her sentence, Risa suddenly stopped, her brows furrowing slightly.

—Wait a minute, this direction sounds a bit like... an internet celebrity?

"What's wrong?" Yukimura asked softly when he saw her fall silent.

"It's nothing." Risa snapped out of her reverie, her fingertips unconsciously tapping her lower lip. After all, does this kind of interdisciplinary field really exist in this world?

Once home, Risa immediately turned on her computer and looked up the admission brochure for Tokyo University of the Arts.

The screen clearly displayed—

Graduate School of Film and Television, Major in New Media Arts

Research areas: Commercial video production, cross-media production, digital marketing

Risa blinked, somewhat surprised: "There really is such a major..."

She continued scrolling down the page, where the process and detailed requirements for the independent admissions exam were explained one by one.

1. Application submission (registration): August to September

2. First Selection Examination (Document Review):

Submit a portfolio, a statement of reasons for volunteering, and an activity report, etc.

3. Second selection process (interview + practical skills test): October to November

• Interview: Discussion of works, creative concepts, and future plans

• Practical skills tests: including timed creation and project proposals, etc.

4. Qualified publication: around December

Risa stared at the screen, subconsciously biting the straw of her milkshake.

—It seems that she doesn't have much time left.

The bathroom door was gently pushed open, and steam carrying a faint minty scent wafted into the room.

Risa was intently staring at the computer screen, her fingertips tapping on the keyboard, when suddenly a pair of long, slender arms wrapped around her from behind.

-----------------------

Author's Note: My draft for the next chapter was locked four times [crying emoji]. I finally got it approved, and I'm afraid to touch it again. Some lines and sentences aren't perfect, so please bear with it [chin resting on hand].